Without Reservations

is?”
    “Yeah. I know where that is. Where are you from, anyway?”
    “You mean it’s not obvious? I’m from Georgia.”
    Chay nodded. “I knew it was somewhere in the Deep South, but I didn’t know where exactly.” They rode along in silence for several minutes, then Chay decided he’d better get to the important topic before Bit got all pissed off again. “We’re mates.”
    Keaton’s forehead furrowed and he crossed his arms over his chest.
    “Look, I didn’t have anything to do with it. It’s not my fault, okay?”
    Chay blinked. What? Out of everything Keaton could have said, that he hadn’t expected. “I know that. I come from a long line of wolves. I know all about how the whole mate thing works. I just never anticipated having a male mate. You know?”
    “Fuck you. You aren’t exactly what I expected either.”
    Chay’s mouth dropped open. Whoa , someone had quite a temper.
    Chay snapped his mouth shut. “I didn’t say I was pissed off or anything, I just… Hell, I’m surprised.”
    “Yeah, I think you made your feelings on the subject quite clear. And for the record, I don’t have any kind of communicable disease. Kissing me won’t give you rabies or anything.” Sarcasm laced the deep southern drawl.
    So that’s what he was all bent out of joint over…the kiss. “Hey, I just thought you should know, okay? I didn’t mean anything by that. It was a nice kiss, it was just—”
    “Yeah, look, I’m sorry. I’m being an asshole.” He pointed left. “Turn here. My apartment complex is the next left. It’s the second building.”
    Chay pulled in and slowed the truck. “Here?”
    “Yeah, this is fine. I’ll have to go get the manager to let me in. I’m right up there. Listen, if you want to wait, I’ll run in and change and www.samhainpublishing.com 25
    J.L. Langley
    bring you your clothes back. The apartment manager lives directly across from me. Or I can wash them and bring them to you tomorrow after I get off work. It’s up to you.”
    Chay smiled. You aren’t getting away from me that easy, Bit.
    Keaton got out of the truck and shut the door. “Well, do you want to wait or do you want me to bring them to you?”
    “What time do you get off work tomorrow?”
    “My last class is at three o’clock.”
    “What time do you usually get home?”
    “About four-fifteen. Why?”
    “I’ll get them tomorrow when I come for dinner at six. You have a preference of pizza toppings?”
    Keaton frowned. “Look, I think it’s best we part ways here and now.
    You don’t want me, and I’ll be damned if I—”
    “Okay, then. Pepperoni it is. See you tomorrow, Bit.” Chay pulled away with a satisfied grin and glanced in the rearview at an astonished Keaton. The man would eventually figure out that Chay was every bit as stubborn as he was.
    26 www.samhainpublishing.com

    Without Reservations

Chapter Three
    Keaton pushed his glasses up on his nose, looked back at the book and read the same sentence for the third time. Who was he kidding? He slammed the book shut and pulled his glasses off, setting them on top of the textbook. The clock on the microwave read five forty-five p.m. He did not care if Chay showed up. He didn’t. The man didn’t even like him.
    Keaton groaned and got up from the kitchen table. Damn Chay anyway. Not only did the man have the audacity to be straight, he had to be Keaton’s type. He was gorgeous, smart, and obviously a kind, considerate man. Keaton rolled his eyes. Chay had practically run from the house screaming yesterday when Keaton had kissed him, but it didn’t stop him from trying to feed Keaton’s skinny ass and making sure he got home safely. To make matters worse, even after being so soundly set down, it hadn’t stopped Keaton from imagining Chay last night when he’d jerked off. Oh, what he wanted to do to that man. He could practically feel that nicely muscled body, moving over his…
    A straight man. He could not do this again, not after Jonathon…and Jonathon wasn’t even his mate. This had the potential to be much worse.
    Keaton groaned and paced back into the kitchen. This entire situation seriously sucked. He had to stop this before it even started. It was better that way. Better for Chay and definitely better for him.
    He smelled Chay before hearing the knock at the door. Keaton rolled his eyes. Even Chay’s scent called to him. And damn if his idiot cock didn’t jump up and take note of Chay’s arrival too. Stupid sensitive